From the Guidelines
The recommended dosage of LIPASA GRANULES for pancreatic insufficiency is at least 40,000 USP units of lipase during each meal in adults and one-half of that with snacks, with subsequent dosage adjustments based on meal size and fat content, as well as clinical symptoms and nutritional status 1.
Key Considerations
- The dosage of LIPASA GRANULES should be individualized based on the severity of pancreatic insufficiency and the composition of the meal.
- The medication should be taken with every meal and snack to replace digestive enzymes and improve nutrient absorption.
- Dosage adjustments may be needed for different fat content in meals, and the dose should be titrated up as needed to reduce steatorrhea or gastrointestinal symptoms of maldigestion.
- The maximal dose is 2500 units of lipase per kg per meal or 10,000 units of lipase per kg per day, but there is no upper limit to dosing in adults as excess enzymes are eliminated through stools 1.
Administration Guidelines
- LIPASA GRANULES should be mixed with a small amount of soft, acidic food (like applesauce) at room temperature or cooler, and swallowed immediately without chewing.
- The medication can be taken with a high-fat diet, but dietary modifications may be necessary to optimize treatment, including a low-moderate fat diet with frequent smaller meals and avoiding very-low-fat diets 1.
- Routine supplementation and monitoring of fat-soluble vitamin levels are recommended, as well as baseline measurements of nutritional status, including body mass index, quality-of-life measure, and fat-soluble vitamin levels 1.
From the Research
Dosage and Administration Guidelines for LIPASA GRANULES
The dosage and administration guidelines for LIPASA GRANULES, a pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy, in patients with pancreatic insufficiency are as follows:
- The recommended dosage is 25,000 to 40,000 units of lipase per meal using pH-sensitive pancreatin microspheres 2, 3.
- In case of treatment failure, the dosage should be increased two to three times 2.
- Compliance may be checked by measurement of fecal chymotrypsin, although this is not a standardized procedure 2.
- Patients may also benefit from additional acid suppression with application of unprotected pancreatin and/or reduced fat intake 2.
Specific Dosage Recommendations
- A study published in 2010 recommended a dosage of 72,000 lipase units per meal and 36,000 lipase units per snack 4.
- Another study published in 2011 used a mean daily dose of 186,960 ± 74,640 lipase units per day, administered as 24,000-lipase unit capsules 5.
Administration Guidelines
- Pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy should be administered simultaneously with meal nutrients to achieve effective treatment of malabsorption due to severe pancreatic exocrine insufficiency 2, 3.
- The therapy should be individualized to meet the specific needs of each patient, taking into account factors such as the severity of pancreatic insufficiency and the presence of other gastrointestinal disorders 4, 5.